Book object, "Time Out" by Yohei Nishimura, published [Tokyo : The artist, 1992]

1 art original ; 21 x 27 x 6 cm.

Title provided by cataloguer.
Base of the book object signed by the artist and dated 1992.
Gift of the artist to Jan van der Wateren, Librarian and Chief Keeper of the National Art Library, and donated by him.
"A piece of paper when burnt, turns into ashes. A book which consists of sheets of paper, when burnt, turns into ashes. This idea is such a matter-of-course that I never had any doubt otherwise.
I have long been working on various objects by firing them in a kiln. At a certain point, I tried to fire books coated with clay as I believed that was the only way to keep forms of paper without turning them to ashes. Then I found a curious fact that not only a part of the book coated with clay but also a part without still conserves a form. The temperature of a kiln was around 1200 C. I was so surprised by the fact that paper retained its form after being fired at such a high temperature, I immediately decided to fire books in a kiln. ...
After this experiment, I have been continuing firing all kinds of books and magazines. Many of them become white after being fired, but depending on the quality of the paper, some yellow and the other light green, presenting a subtle variation. The ideal temperature is a little bit over 1000 C.
Books when fired, remain in existence and above all remain incredibly beautiful. It is still a mystery" -- Artist's statement.

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